Letters From the Front

Dated: May 15, 1917

The following letter was received by Mrs. A. G. Bagley from her grandson, Wm. Tait[e], of the 89th Battalion:

Somewhere in France
May 15th, 1917

Dear Grandma:

I want to thank you for the nice little box which I received several days ago. It was so very kind of you and good of you and the givers to remember me, it was just great and I appreciate it so much. It seems to me as if I can never thank you enough for all the nice things you all have done for me.

I am very well, and I must say getting along great so far. I have a fairly good job now as Company clerk, I like it find and it is so much nicer than doing line work. I was recommended for it by an officer, one of the nicest fellows that I have ever met. He and I were great pals so to speak, while in the trenches. We two certainly used to have some great talks about the "West" and other parts. He came out here from Edmonton. when the big offensive started in April he was wounded in the leg and was invalided to England.

I also have been promoted, and am now a "Lance-Corporal," so is Cliff Malcolm, but Cliff has been in the hospital for some time now. He left the trenches with what is known here as trench fever, but is getting along fine. I think he will soon be coming back again. His brother is over here now. I have not seen him but some of the boys have. He is with the Band of the 16th Battalion, just think, in "Kilts." Ha, ha--some class to Roy.

Reg Taylor came over in a draft on April 31st, and is with the Battalion.

You might mention this to Mr. W. R. Atkins, that his son, Lance-Corporal G. F. Atkins¹, who, while on active service, was killed on the night of April 28th, was buried by his comrades, who wish me to extend their deepest sympathy to his parents. George was a good soldier and a fine comrade, respected and loved by all who knew him.

The Canadians won great praise for themselves in the month of April, things which will no doubt go down in history. The French Government attributed great praise, and today so far the Canadian troops rank first as the best fighting force in existence according to their number. Only civilians, but sure stickers, and all they know is to go ahead. I hope this does not sound like bravado, for honestly, it is a fact. The number of the boys of the [unit stricken out] have been awarded decorations for bravery on the field.

One fellow, a very small little chap, received the "D.C.M." He, single handed, captured two big Germans.

We are having delightful weather here at last: it's just great. Sunshine all day long with a shower of rain now and then just to keep things cool. We are out of the trenches for a short time for rest, and we are sure taking all the advantages of it. It is so nice now after putting in such a long wet and dreary winter. The boys enjoy themselves after work hours and evenings playing football, baseball and at other outdoor sports. There is besides these, a picture show which is run by the Y.M.C.A., so you may judge for yourself that at present we all are getting along fine. We are billeted in a little town: the place itself is just like the majority of the French towns that I have seen, but then the surrounding country is just beautiful. The fields are so green, and the crops are coming up fine, flowers in bloom, it just makes one feel as if this is a queer world after all.

Those times spent in Red Deer were great times for Willie, and I shall always remember them, not as it makes much difference to anyone outside of myself, I often think how strange it was that I was sent to that town at first, you know I did not like the place at all, but I just got to like it more and more, or perhaps it was the people ther.

Lots of love from

WILLIE